Submarine gun



Dec. 23, 1941. c. H. WlLEN SUBMAHINE GUN Filed Dec, 10, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTO BY W ".ATTbRNEY 3 Dec. 23,1941.

c. H. WILEN SUBMARINE GUN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed D80.-

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ATTORNEY c. H. WILEN SUBMARINE GUN Dec; 23, 1%4-1.

Filed Dec. 10, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y R E .5

T1 fil m fim V T m A (N MW HIM/B Patented Dec. 23, 1941- UNITED STAT s A ENT OFFICE.

This invention relates to improvements in what may be termed a submarine gun for shooting flsh by means of an arrowlike or elongated pointed member which is discharged from the gun by a person while swimming or being submerged un-' der water.

It is a well-known fact that a person swimming under water or submerged in the water can approach within a few feet of any fish that may be present, and because of this fact the fish can be shot and captured by the gun to be hereinafter described. This gun has many essential improvements over the original form of gun which I have used for shooting fish under water. These improvements or advantages may be summarized as follows:

In the original type of gun, using a long tube safety catch-which, after the gun is loaded, can be moved to effectively lock the trigger so that the loaded gun may be left, with the danger being reduced to a minimum of children or others and an elongated pointed member for compressu ing a spring within the tube, the force of the discharge, due to the powerful spring, was so great and the departure of the arrow so rapid that a vacuum was created in the barrel of the gun which retarded and weakened the force of the arrow. To overcome this difiiculty, I have provided a plurality of holes arranged longitudinally of the tube or barrel of the gun, which holes are small enough so as not to weaken the tube, yet large enough to admit water when the gun is discharged. This breaks up the vacuum and overcomes this difiiculty.

Another advantage is that, in the form of gun to be herein described, the pistol grip handle is so placed that when the gun is loaded and being carried while swimming. it is in perfect balance and may be aimed while being held in one hand,

1 allowing the arm of that hand to be stretched outwardly to its maximum distance; this gives added approach to the fish or target. Furthermore, the pistol grip is so constructed that the trigger may be fired by two fingers of one hand, while the grip is held by the other two fingers.

A further advantage is that the gun is provided with a loading catch so constructed and arranged that once the arrowlike member is gripped by it, the arrow can only be discharged by pulling the trigger into releasing position. Afwr the arrowlike member has been locked to discharge position, pulling on the arrow only serves to lock it tightly against the catch, which feature is of great value as it prevents accidental discharge of the gun due to a weak loading grip as exists in guns of this type which I have heretofore used.

A further advantage is that the safety of-the gun is further assured by the use of a thumb accidentally pulling the trigger and discharging the gun. 1

A further advantage is that the gun barrel or tubeis made in two parts, one of which remains with the hand grip. while the other may be removed and the two portions folded up. since the spring will allow this, thereby allowing the gun to be reduced in length for greater ease in carrying or transporting.

These and other advantages will be discerned from a reading of the following specification, taken in connection with the annexed drawings,

wherein:

Figure lisa side view of the greater portion of the gun, the forward part being shown in elevation and the rear part partly in section and partly in elevation, and with the gun in loaded position, the trigger being locked.

Figure 2 is a top view of Figure l, with the parts of the hand grip shown in section.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-4 of Figure 2 but showing the anchor bolt in elevation.

Figure 4 is a view of the left-hand or firing end of Figure 1, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the loading pin in dotted posi- Figure 5 is a view somewhat like Figure 1, but

gripsmember at the reverse sideof Figure Figure 8 is a side elevation of the loading catch.

Figure 9 is a view of the right-hand end of Figure Figure 10 is a view of the left-hand end of the trigger arm which engages the end of the loading catch shown in Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a partial bottom view of one of the gun barrel parts just adjacent the hand grip.

Figure 12 is a partial view of the elongated arrowlike member showing the end which engages the discharge spring.

Figure 13' is a view on. a small scale showing the gun and the arrowlilre member with the interconnecting cord.

Figure 14 shows the two parts of the gun disconnected and folded up for ease in carrying,

- Figure 15 shows a modified form of the extremity of the projectile or harpoon end of the arrowlike member.

Referring now to the details wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts inthe various views, I and 2 are two tubes which meet at 3 within the two parts 4 and 5 of a hand grip which are arcuately formed at the top portion to receive the ends of the tubes I and 2, thereby forming a two-part combination tube which is grip when these parts are fastened together as by screw studs 9, 'I and 8 which have smooth portions for pivotally supporting parts to be hereinafter referred to.

".The tube 2 is provided with dowel pins 9 and II which enter holes in the grip members 4 and 5 respectively, thereby preventing the tube 2 from turning in the hand grip. Fastened to the tube I, as by a plurality of screws II, is a guide block I2 which is adapted to fit into a slotted portion of the end I3 of the two parts of the hand grip, thereby preventing the tube I from turning in the hand grip members. A set screw I4 carried held in alignment by the two parts of the hand by the block I2 serves to lock the block and the tube I to the two-hand grips, it being understood that the large stem portion of the screw I4 overlaps the two end portions I3 of the h nd grip members 4 and 5.

Each of the tube members I and 2 is provided a safety catch 4| which is pivoted on the smooth part of the screw stud 8. Fastened to the safety catch H is an operating stud 42 which has a shank portion to slidably move in a slot 43 may be operated and the gun discharged. By

holding the trigger in the positionshown in Figure 6 and pushing the thumb nut '44 downward ly, the safety catch 4| is moved to the position shown in Figure 5 wherein the projection 38 and the finger 45 interlock to prevent the arrowfrom being locked into discharging position.

As shown in Figure 11, the tube I is cut away at 49 and slotted at 41 to provide a space for the loading catch 38.

As shown in Figure 13, the end of the cord 24 is attached to the projectile or arrowlike memher by reason of a hole 48 therein. At the end of the projectile orarrowlike member, a harpoon wtih a -plurality of longitudinally spaced holes I5 for the purpose of preventing the. arrowlike member I6, when it is forced outwardly by the spring I1, from creating a vacuum in the twopart combination tube. One end of the discharge spring I1 is formed into a ring and set into a block I8 and is anchored into position by abolt 19 passing through the ring and the block I8, as well as a reenforcing cap 20. The cap 28 has a groove or channel therein to receive a lightspring 2I which is also held in place by the bolt I9. The spring 2I has a conically shaped detent 22 to engage the surface of the tube 2, or preferably a slightly conica1 projection thereon, the purpose of which will be later described.

The tube I carries a reel 23 from which a cord 24 extends. A. support guide 25 for the cord 24 is provided immediately adjacent the reel 23, and a further support and guide 26 is provided at the extremity of the tube' I.

Housed within the two grip members 4' and 5, and pivoted on the holding screw stud I, is a trigger having a slotted arm 21 which carries a end 49 maybe attached as by ascrew-threaded end 58. The harpoon end .of the projectile may be provided with a catch 5| pivoted at 52 and normally held by friction in the position shown in Figure 4, but after the fish has been shot, the catch 5| may move at an angle to the portion 49 to lock the arrow tothe'prey.

I have foundthat with the usual type of projectile end, if the arrow misses the fish and hits a rock, the force is great enough so as to either distort the shaft of the arrow or smash its point, or both, so I propose to insertin the replaced; This construction obviates the trouble pin 28. The pin 28 is adapted to operate in a'- slot 29 in the loading catch 30 which has a pivot hole 3| to receive the smooth part of the screw stud 8. The catch 38 has a slight groove 32 to allow the spring II to pass freely over its end andto better fit around the reduced portion or seat 34 adjacent an abutment 35 formed at the end of. the projectile or arrowlike member I6. The trigger has a finger-engaging portion 36 having an arm 31 extending rearwardly therefrom and having a projection 38 extending at an angle to the arm. To this end of the arm a spring 39 is attached, while the other end is attached to a screw stud 40 which also acts to, fasten previously referred to. y

In order to provide a relatively free length of line to allow the arrow more freedom in its travel after it leaves the gun or tube I, with the least braking action possible. I prefer .to loop the cord 24 back toward the rear of the, gun and pass it under the light spring 2I which sits in arecess as previously described, so it cannot turn around the bolt I9. A slight pull on the cord will cause it to pass free of the projection 22 and allow the projectile to gain considerable momentum before it'has to overcome the resistance of the reel 23. I

In order to more easily load the gun, I pro.- vide a hole 53 in the end of the arrowlike member adjacent the harpoon portion 49, through which hole a pin 51, shown in dotted linesin In Figure 14 I have .shown the two parts I and 2 of the gun disconnected and folded back with the spring I] so that the gun may be placed ,in a short carrying casing.

The gun tubes I and 2 are preferably made of Duralumin-which is strong enough to stand the strain of loading,'yet light enough to be easily carried by an ordinary swimmer. I have found that this is also sumciently resistant to salt water so thatwith ordinary care, such as rinsing with fresh water after several hours use in salt water,- no corrosion occurs. The loading spring l1 and the trigger spring 39'may be made of stainless steel or beryllium to avoid oxidation in saltwater and to reduce care-taking and cleaning to a minimum. All other steel parts are preferably made of stainless steel or plated with a material to reduce rusting to a minimum. While I have shown a loading pin 51, the gun can be reset or loaded without the pin but not so easily. As a matter of fact, the gun can be reset or loaded without the user or swimmer coming out of the water. This can be done by resting the hand grip on the top of one foot while treading water and pushing in the projectile It.

From what has been said, it will be seenthat the various advantages set forth in the early part of the specification are attained through the medium of a rather simple and inexpensive construction, all of which has added greatly to the commercial possibilities of such a device.

What I claim is:

l. A submarine gun including an elongated, two-part combination tube with means for locking the two parts in alignment, a hand-grip positioned near the union of the two parts, a catch carried by the hand grip and adapted toengage a notch in an arrowlike member adapted to be inserted into the ejector end of .the combination tube, a trigger also carried by the hand grip and operatively connected to said catch, a compressible spring positioned in both parts of the tube when the arrowlike member is absent from the tube, one end of the spring being anchored to the end of the combination tube opposite the ejector end, and a line attached at one end to an intermediate portion of the tube and having its other end adapted to be connected to the arrowlike member.

2. A submarine gun including an elongated, two-part combination tube, a hand grip having means for holding the two parts of the tube in alignment, each part of the combination tube having spaced openings along its length, a catch carried-by the hand grip and adapted to engage a notch in an arrowlike member adapted to be inserted into the ejector end of the combination tube, a trigger also carried by the hand grip and operatively connected to said catch, a compressible spring positioned in both parts of the tube when the arrowlike member is absent from the tube, one end of the spring being anchored to the end of the combination tube opposite the ejector end, and a line attached at one end to an intermediate portion of the tube and having its other end adapted to be connected to the arrowlike member.

nected thereto and including an elongated tan-' demly arranged plural-part tube having a part to which the line is connected, each tube part having a plurality of spaced relief openings along their length, a firing spring positioned, when not compressed, inthe parts of the tube, the spring having one end anchored to one end of the tube and adapted to be compressed by the arrowlike member adapted to be inserted into the ejector end of the tube, a hand grip interconnected with the tube, a catch carried by the hand grip for holding the arrowlike member when it is inserted into the tube to compress the spring to ejection position, a trigger also carried by the hand grip and operatively connected to said catch.

5. A fish-shooting mechanism including an elongated tube carrying a reel and a line connected between the reel and an arrowlike member adapted to be discharged from the tube, the tube having a plurality of openings along its length and a hand grip positioned intermediate its ends, a catch and trigger carried within the 1 hand grip, a single spring within the tube normally extending on both ends of the hand grip and an abutment for the spring at one end of the tube, the arrowlike member adapted to be 3. A submarine gun including an elongated,

two-part combination tube, a hand grip having means for holding the two'parts of the tube in alignment, a compressible spring normally positioned in both parts of the tube and anchored to the end of one, said holding means including a device carried by the hand grip and operable from the exterior of said grip, whereby the two parts of the combination tube may be readily separated and folded up along with the spring for convenience in transporting, acatch carried by the hand-grip and having a part adapted to engage a notch in an arrowlike member adapted to be inserted into inserted into the tube end opposite the abutment to compress said spring, the arrowlike member. having means engaged by said catch to hold the said member in spring-compressing position until released by the trigger.

6. A fish-shooting mechanism for ejecting an arrowlike member including atwo-part tandemly arranged-tube, each part having holes along its length, a hand grip having a two-part frame for engaging two ends of the two-part tube to hold the parts in alignment, aspring within the tube normally extending on both ends of the hand grip, an anchorage at one end of the tube for one end of the spring, the arrowlike member adapted to be inserted into the tube at its open end to compress said spring and having a notch therein near its tube-entering end, a catch lever carried by the hand grip and adapted to engage said notch in the arrowlike member to hold it in spring-compressing position and a trigger interconnected with the catch lever to release the arrowlike member.

7. A submarine fishing gun for discharging an arrowlike member including an elongated tandemly arranged plural-part tube carrying a reel, with a line fastened between the reel and the arrowlike member,-each tube part'having a plurality of spaced openings along their length, a firing spring positioned, when not compressed, in the parts of the tube, the spring having one end anchored to one end of the tube and adapted to be compressed by the arrowlike member adapted to be inserted into the ejector end of the tube, a hand grip interconnected with the tube, a catch carried by the hand grip for holding the arrowlike member when it is inserted into the tube to compress the spring to ejection position, a trigger also carried by the hand grip and operatively connected to said catch, the reel being attached tothe tube forward of the hand the ejector end of the comgrip, a support for the line at the ejector end of rotatably mounted at the firing spring anchorage end of the tube, for initially holding a relatively free length of the line between the arrowlike member and the support.

8. A submarine gun including an elongated tube carrying a reel with a line connection to an arrowlike member adapted to be discharged from the tube, a compressible spring within the tube and having one end anchored to one end of the tube and adapted to be compressed by said arrowlike member insertable into the tube, a hand grip positioned near the balancing point of the gun, a loading catch carried within the hand. grip for engaging the spring-compressing end of the arrowlike member, a trigger also carried by the hand grip and operatively connected to the catch and a safety lock carried by the hand grip for locking the trigger.

9. For a submarine gun including an elongated tube carrying a reel with a line interconnected between it and an arrowlike member, a compressible spring within the tube and having one end anchored to one end of the tube and adapted to be compressed by the arrowlike member insertable into the tube, a hand grip positioned near the balancing point of the gun, a loading catch carried within the hand grip for engaging the spring-compressing end of the arrowlike member, a trigger also carried by the hand grip and operatively connected to the catch, a safety lock carried by the hand grip for locking the trigger in either of two positions, one position preventing the said catch from engaging the arrowlike member, the other position being the loaded one. i r

10. For a submarine gun including an elongated tube carrying a reel with a line interconnectedbetween it and an arrowlike member, a compressible spring within the tube and having one end anchored to one end of the tube and adapted to be compressed by the arrowlike member insertable into the tube, a hand grip positioned near the balancing point of the gun, a loading catch carried within the hand grip for engaging the spring-compressing end of the arrowlike member, a trigger also carried by the hand grip and operatively connected to the catch, a safety lock carried by the hand grip for lock- 2,267,065 the tube, and means, including a springnoning the trigger, said trigger having an arm with a projection extending at an angle to the arm, the safety lock comprising a movable member having a finger adapted to engage said arm pro- Jection on either side thereof, depending on the position of the trigger, means for operating the safety lock.

-11. A submarine gun including an elongated tube carrying a reel with a line, interconnected between it and an arrowlike member, a compressible spring within the tube and having one end anchored to one end of the tube and adapted to be compressed by the arrowlike member insertable into the tube, the gun having a two part hand grip, each having along its top portion a semi-circular formation to receive a half circumferential part of the tube, means for fastening the two parts of the hand grip together so as to grip the tube, a loading catch pivotally carried within the hand grip, a trigger also carried by the hand grip and operatively connected to. the catch, a spring acting on the trigger to normally move it and the catch to loading position, the tube having an opening therein to allow the end of the catch to protrude into the tube into a position to engage the arrow-like member when it is pushed to loading position.

12. A submarine fishing gun for discharging an arrow-like member including an elongated 'tandemly arranged plural -part tube having a reel attached thereto and a line interconnected between it and the arrowlike member, each having a plurality of spaced openings along their length, a firing spring positioned, when not compressed, in the parts of the tube, the spring having one end anchored to one end of the tube and adapted to be compressed by the arrow-like member adapted to be inserted into the ejector end of the tube, a hand grip interconnected with the tube, a catch carried by the hand grip for holding the arrow-like member when it is inserted into the tube to compress the spring to ejection position, a trigger also carried by the hand grip and operatively connected to said catch, a safety lock carried by the hand grip for locking the trigger in at leastone position to prevent the trigger being pulled to discharge the gun.

CHARLES H. WILEN. 

